A Jones Beach time line

Jones Beach State Park was a work in progress when it opened on a windy Aug. 4, 1929. The East Bathhouse -- where the opening ceremonies took place -- was the only one of what would become the park's "signature structures" that was already complete.

1930: Opening of Jones Beach Marine Stadium open-air venue that was the site of water shows and circuses.

July 2, 1931: New York State Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt returns for the opening of the West Bathhouse.

Oct. 27, 1934: Meadowbrook Parkway becomes the second major route to the beach.

1936: Original Jones Beach Restaurant opens on the boardwalk.

June 26, 1952: Mike Todd's "A Night in Venice" is the first show in the new Jones Beach Marine Theater.

1960: In anticipation of continued growth in beach attendance, West End 1, a new parking and bathing facility on the western end of Jones Beach, is opened.

1961: The even larger West End 2, with 3,200 parking spaces, opens.

July 1975: The 4.5-mile Jones Beach Bikeway welcomes cyclists. It is also known as the Ellen Farrant Memorial Bikeway and now extends to Tobay Beach.

May 2004: As part of the commemoration of the park's 75th anniversary, the first Bethpage Air Show is held. Attendance usually averages about 400,000.

November 2012: Damage from superstorm Sandy closes the boardwalk. It reopens Memorial Day weekend in 2013.